16 year olds to be given the right to vote…….yes or no?

Grandma70s

Yes. They won’t know much, but then neither do most 18-year-olds, or for that matter the rest of the electorate.

A sneering comment aimed at whom specifically.

It really saddens me to see what a low opinion some on this thread have of older people’s understanding and capabilities and
don’t hesitate to say so.

Out of the 16-17 year olds that I know, some still in school and some who are in other forms of training, there is a mixture of behaviour, understanding and capabilities. Probably an accurate reflection of what I would find in a larger selection.

Definitely a no from me

Mollygo

^Plus Im sure the LP doesn't think this will mean more votes for them- why should it?^
Why else would they do it?

For the same reason the Labour/Plaid coalition did in Wales, and the SNP did it in Scotland, surely?

It really saddens me to read what a low opinion some on this thread have of our young peoples understanding and capabilities. I don’t recognise the 16-18 years olds I know at all.

Very interesting responses, but definitely a NO from the majority.

We have a son and daughter who would have voted whatever their best friend/teacher/favourite celebrity would have endorsed and a son who would have researched the back side out of it and made an informed decision.

I think this will be a huge mistake.

Excellent news, all my dgc would make good thoughtful choices and would be bothered to vote as would their friends.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

So we're talking about today's 12 year olds voting in 2029. Frightening isn't it?

We're quite possibly talking about people voting when we're dead. Will some "Grans" still be trying to influence what others can try to achieve in their lifetime?

theworriedwell

If 16 year olds can't vote because they can't go into combat zones should pensioners be able to vote if they are too old to serve?

This is how I feel. People often leap to 'they can't do X so they shouldn't be allowed to do Y', which just makes no sense when X and Y are completely separate things.

16 year olds don't usually earn enough to pay tax. Should being a taxpayer be a condition of voting? They aren't sent into combat zones, but neither were women until 2018. Should we not have had the vote until then, and should it be conditional on having fought for our country?

Things like alcohol are forbidden as they are bad for young bodies - not great for older ones either, but unless we want to restrict freedom of choice it seems sensible to stop people from using it until they are older. I'd rather see it limited to over 25s than allowed for 16 year olds, personally. But either way, it's nothing to do with voting.

Having said all of that, I am not in favour. 18 seems about right to me. Yes, many over 18s have no clue about politics and some 16 year olds are clued up, but on the whole I think 15 is too young.

Plus Im sure the LP doesn't think this will mean more votes for them- why should it?
Why else would they do it?

Absolutely not.

Maybe an IQ test is needed for anyone to vote? Just because someone is 18 + doesn't mean they have any clue , we all know plenty of older people that aren't exactly compos mentis and just vote the way their parents/ friends/ husband votes. Its not just about age. Plus Im sure the LP doesn't think this will mean more votes for them- why should it?

merlotgran

They’ll just follow and vote for whoever has the best TikTok account.

A definite NO from me. I have a grandson aged 17 and I wouldn't let him choose a tv programme, let alone anything more serious!

They’ll just follow and vote for whoever has the best TikTok account.

Pantglas2

The consensus on this forum on teenagers having the gumption to source their own part time work was that it was too much to expect from the delicate little flowers at their tender ages so mum and/or dad pulled strings…

I've read on here that their brains aren't fully developed until the age of 25 so perhaps the voting age should be increased not decreased?

LizzieDrip

Some very defensive reactions. I wonder why?

I can't see any defensive posts, just considered opinions.

How many young people of 16 or 17 do you know LizzieDrip and are they from a large cross-section of society if you believe that many will research, think critically and consider all options before committing their X to a party.?

They are as diverse as the rest of society but without the experience of other generations.

The consensus on this forum on teenagers having the gumption to source their own part time work was that it was too much to expect from the delicate little flowers at their tender ages so mum and/or dad pulled strings…

Agree with you on this . It reeks of desperation , most of the kids lack the maturity to make any rational decisions let alone one about who’s going to govern us !.
They can’t leave school , drive or get married at 16 but two tier kier wants them to vote at 16
It’s a no from me as well

No, I don't agree with it. Starmer is desperate.

NO, NO, a thousand times NO!

Fluffyjumper I wonder who influenced your DGD?

sundowngirl

A definite NO from me. Apparently their brains are not fully formed until they are in their early 20s.

Mamie/Casdon - Why should England come into line with Scotland and Wales? How does that make it right? They both have very small populations compared to England Perhaps we should also have free prescriptions and free university place too

I don’t understand what you mean, as Wales and Scotland took independent decisions to allow 16-18 year old to vote in our own country’s elections, there is no pressure on anybody else to do the same? This decision is not an England decision though, it’s a decision for the UK as I understand it, so it will apply to general elections which affect us all.

No from me, and also from my 16 year old granddaughter who, knowing lots of other 16/17 year olds thinks that it's a crazy idea!

I think at that age, they are more susceptible to being influenced by those more worldly than themselves, mentors, teachers, parents, all of whom may have very entrenched views themselves. My perception amongst that age group as a whole, there will of course be exceptions, the majority won't have reached the right stage of independent thought or development to vote. I wonder how many would even exercise that right anyway. After all, I'm sure this has already been pointed out, if a crime is committed by someone under the age of 18, their name must be kept out of the public domain because they are not deemed in the eyes of the law to be an adult and by extension lacking in maturity.

theworriedwell

If 16 year olds can't vote because they can't go into combat zones should pensioners be able to vote if they are too old to serve?

There are many things that a 16 year old is unable to do legally.

Do you think that 16 should be the new age of majority whereby they are treated as an adult in all walks of life here in the U.K.?

What life experience has the average 16 year old had to independently decide who to vote for, and what the outcome of their X could entail for the entire country?

A definite NO from me. Apparently their brains are not fully formed until they are in their early 20s.

Mamie/Casdon - Why should England come into line with Scotland and Wales? How does that make it right? They both have very small populations compared to England Perhaps we should also have free prescriptions and free university place too